Graphics: Although not state-of-the-art, the visuals are one of the high points in TIMESHIFT. The graphics are most impressive when time powers are employed. Although a bit muddy at times, what you see perfectly fits the tone of the action. The only disappointment is the character modeling, which (as is often the case in first-person shooters) is far from stellar. The rain and water effects are superb, and everyone should stop time and look through the frozen raindrops at the surroundings or take a moment to marvel at water gushing out of pipes. Real-time lighting and shadowing are also expertly implemented. Explosions are wonderful, especially in slow motion, and watching all the debris fly around afterwards is truly memorable. Thanks in part to a high-quality physics engine, much of the physical settings are destructible, and best of all, the havoc you wreak is permanent. It’s fun to destroy a window, crawl through and then reverse time to repair it. Shooting can even leave scorch marks.

Interface: TIMESHIFT utilizes standard first-person shooter mouse-keyboard controls, and both movement and shooting function fluidly. You can adjust the controls to your liking if you wish. The menu interface is stark but effective, and it’s really nice that you can choose whether or not to turn off the blood, gore and gameplay hints. The play screen is easy to interpret, with a well-organized HUD that displays the currently selected gun or grenade, the amount of time control power remaining, the amount of damage you’ve taken and the location of mission objectives, allies and enemies.

As you progress through the single-player game, you can unlock cinematics, musical tracks and game development materials. It’s convenient that, as is typical in computer games, you can save and load wherever you want rather than wait for predetermined checkpoints. It’s also a relief that, unlike many recently released first-person shooters, TIMESHIFT has no intrusive copy protection scheme that would annoy legitimate purchasers.

Gameplay: The gameplay in TIMESHIFT is consistently enjoyable, with a nice blend of intense combat action and less frenetic involvement in more contained battles. Interestingly, the designers don’t overemphasize the time control dynamic. Unlike some recent FPS offerings, the emphasis is primarily on shooting, with time powers adding an intriguing twist to the normal action. The exhilaration from eradicating adversaries in a uniquely spectacular way is hard to express. The ending of the game is the type that some will like and others will hate, but I found it satisfying. The primary storyline is resolved, but new questions open up that appear to set the stage for a possible sequel. The single-player campaign will take from around 12 to 25 hours to complete, depending on the skill and pace of the player. This is more than long enough for a release of this type.

Multiplayer: TIMESHIFT has a robust multiplayer component that allows players to compete over a LAN or the Internet on 14 maps, and the customization options appear virtually endless. In setting up your character, you can select from numerous skins and colors, specify which weapons are available in a given match and which multiplayer announcer you want to call your game. You can also utilize such multiplayer modifiers as increasing running and jumping abilities, lowering gravity and either making a single hit lethal or enhancing resistance to damage. You can then save your custom settings for future use.

Two special multiplayer powers stand out. First, the Time Shield surrounds you in a protective sphere that slows down any incoming projectiles, enemies or objects and makes you invulnerable to time manipulation. Second, you can throw, slow, stop and reverse Chrono Grenades affecting any player, weapon or projectile caught in the blast radius. Freezing opponents with a time grenade and then blasting them to smithereens couldn’t be more satisfying.

You get the standard array of multiplayer modes — Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag and one-on-one — plus a couple of extras. King of Time (a variant of King of the Hill) allows you to try to grab a time sphere in order to become impervious to all time effects and then attempt to achieve maximum carnage while holding it. Meltdown Madness allows your team to throw Chrono Grenades at the opposing team’s base while the other team tries to do the same thing to yours; each base has a timer, and the goal is to have your team’s timer hit zero first. These well-designed and innovative special modes are so fast-paced and fun that the multiplayer excitement in TIMESHIFT exceeds the thrill of the single player experience.

Sound FX: The sound effects in TIMESHIFT are above average, but not spectacular. The ambient environmental noises are adequate, particularly with mind-numbing political speeches blaring in the background. Weapons sound convincing and authentic. Best of all are the vocal responses from enemies when they find you’ve taken their weapon or change your position using your time powers.

Music: Music does not play a major role in TIMESHIFT. What you hear is eerie, ominous and appropriate to the mood of the game. At the very least, the full orchestral score never distracts from the gameplay.

Difficulty: There are three levels of difficulty in TIMESHIFT — Casual, Skilled and Elite. As alluded to earlier, the ease of destroying adversaries using time manipulation makes the combat quite easy, even at the highest level of difficulty. Of course, there are circumstances where the only cover you can find while your time powers regenerate is destructible. This title is highly accessible to unskilled as well as highly skilled players.

Intelligence: The artificial intelligence of the computer-controlled enemies is quite good. If you try to hide to allow your time powers to return, or use a hostage to prevent a foe from getting to you, your enemies will slowly circle around you so they can confront you. Plus, your adversaries are generally quite aggressive and don’t wait for you to attack. What’s more, the communication among them is such that they often come up with varied and clever tactics to thwart you. In addition, adversaries generally chose the best response to your moves, whether or not you utilize your time powers against them. As with every game, however, there are minor glitches in the enemy AI. For example, if you’re only partially hidden from view, you might receive incessant gunfire that never hits its mark.

Overall: While at first glance, TIMESHIFT appears to rest exclusively on a gimmick, the sum of its attributes is much more than that, and it deserves modest success. Despite the absence of novelty in some areas, the implementation of the time powers is quite entertaining, the multiplayer options are excellent and the artificial intelligence is quite impressive. Just because a lot of the action is somewhat derivative doesn’t mean it isn’t loads of fun. Although not on the same level as this season’s critical and commercial blockbusters, TIMESHIFT is a very enjoyable first-person shooter and well worth your attention.